In the past, I have answered questions about when to book a cruise and what benefits booking a cruise early might offer. In many cases, cruise lines want cruisers to book their cruises many months in advance. This helps the cruise line get a feel for the popularity of a particular voyage & itinerary as well as plan accordingly for future rate pricing. While a cruiser booking early benefits the cruise line, booking early can also benefit the cruiser. Here are some of the reasons why you can benefit from booking a cruise early:

1) You Can Often Save Money Many cruisers want to sail and save money at the same time. Cruise prices are usually cheaper when a cruiser books many months to a year in advance. Some cruise lines will offer early bird specials to entice cruisers to book early. In some cases, these early savings can be the lowest rate offered for a particular sail date.

2) Some Cruise Lines Offer A Price Guarantee To Cruisers That Book Early There are some cruisers that are hesitant to book a cruise early. One reason for this hesitation may be due to the risk that the price may become cheaper. Some cruise lines alleviate this fear by offering a price guarantee. Cruise lines that offer this type of guarantee often will allow cruisers to request a lower price if the cruise they booked drops lower than the price previously booked at. Each cruise line does this differently, but this is a general overview of how this process works for cruise lines that offer these types of guarantees.

3) Better Selection Of Staterooms In many cases, booking early will allow cruisers to get the best stateroom categories and choice of individual rooms. If there is a certain type of stateroom you want, booking early will increase your chances of getting this particular stateroom selection.

There is only one drawback of booking a cruise too early. You are subject to your cruise line's cancellation and change policy. In some cases, there is no penalty for changing your booking or cancelling if done before a certain date. However, all cruise lines are different. Make sure you research this policy before booking early. Otherwise, consider booking early and you might be able to get the best value for your dollar.